Assessing the Effects of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Support by the Broadband Access Initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts is gratefully acknowledged.
Reports
NEW REPORT (July 8, 2026) Indicators and Methods for the Assessment of BEAD Implementation and Broadband Policy
Abstract: This report offers indicators and methods for the assessment of the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and broadband policy in general. Developed with support from the Broadband Access Initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts, the report offers a prudent set of metrics to track progress toward universal broadband connectivity and a framework for assessing the broader community impacts of BEAD and other broadband policies. While primarily working with indicators derived from the semi-annual reporting requirements (SAR) established by the Department of Commerce, the report also recommends the collection of selected additional data that will assist in comprehensive program assessment. In the interest of transparency and accountability, the report recommends that detailed, granular information be made publicly available, either by NTIA or the eligible entities. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of standardized reporting across states and territories. BEAD and related broadband efforts offer a unique opportunity to build a knowledge base that will remain relevant beyond BEAD and can inform policy efforts toward next-generation digital infrastructures. The report is a first step toward building a dynamic learning system for forward-looking digital infrastructure policy.
PRIOR REPORT (updated July 7, 2025) Assessing the Effects of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on High-Speed Internet Access, Digital Equity, and Community Development
Background and Motivation
The funding authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2021 (Infrastructure Act), the federal government, states, and communities gave states and territories a ten-year opportunity to extend broadband to the (then) more than 12 million locations without high-speed Internet connectivity. It is promising that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is finally advancing into its network deployment phase.
Both the magnitude of the connectivity problem and the proposed solutions have changed since the passing of the Infrastructure Act. Continued private investment, other broadband support programs, and changes to the BEAD rules in 2025, have reduced the number of BEAD-eligible locations to below 4 million. Assessing progress toward universal broadband serves transparency and accountability. It also informs next-generation connectivity policy.
Phase III (2026-2028)
This ongoing part of the project will document progress toward high-speed connectivity and measure the quality of the heterogenous network infrastructure.
Phase II (2024-2026)
Phase II developed specific metrics to assess the progress and the broader community impacts of the restructured BEAD program. See the most recent report.
Phase I (2023-2024)
The first part of the project developed a conceptual broadband ecosystem framework for the assessment of BEAD. See the previous report.
Current Research Team
Previous Research Team Members
Reports and Publications
Bauer, J.M. An Assessment of Proposals to Reform the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD). Quello Center Working Paper 01-25, June 5, 2025. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5296353
Contacts
Dr. Johannes M. Bauer: bauerj@msu.edu
Dr. Jean Hardy: jhardy@msu.edu
Dr. Elizabeth Mack: emack@msu.edu
Dr. Morgan Vigil-Hayes: vigilhay@msu.edu
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EMAIL
quello@msu.edu
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